Catsup and Ketchup are two different condiment. We often misunderstand them and this is only natural because the two sound the same and there is no difference. Here we will review the differences between catsup and Ketchup.
Maybe if you have tasted both at once, you may still not be able to distinguish the taste between catsup and ketchup. Maybe because both are brands for the same product?
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What are Ketchup and Catsup?
Ketchup is a condiment that gives good taste to foods such as burgers, fries and others, Ketchup has a red color and it gives a rich spicy taste.
In the American kitchen, Ketchup is something that is mandatory and always accompanies food, even this is like a necessity. Catsup is the first term used to describe this sauce.
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Glancing at the history of catsup and Ketchup
Catsup and Ketchup are two terms that have been modernized in the western world to describe the same condiment that imparts flavor to dishes. So, it’s only natural that you sometimes see only a slight difference between the two or sometimes can’t tell the difference between the two.
Both ketchup and catsup are made from the same ingredients, usually consisting of sugar, ripe tomatoes, salt, vinegar, and cinnamon.
We need to know that the word “Ketchup” comes from the Chinese word “ke-tread”. The Chinese use this word to refer to fish sauce. As a fish sauce, Ketchup was originally used in seasoning food.
So, about the origin of this sauce there is a lot of debate. Apart from the theory that Ketchup comes from Chinese, there are also those who say that it comes from the word “ke-chiap” not “ke-tread”. Ke-Chiap is the term used by Cantonese Chinese to describe soy sauce.
Catsup was a term commonly used in earlier years in America, while Ketchup was a term commonly used in England.
Tomato sauce originally appeared in the early 1600s and until now has undergone many changes and developments.
Originally, in the 19th century, this sauce had a thin consistency and was similar to Worcester sauce. But now the sauce has thickened and changed.
See too: Zucchini Vs Cucumber, What is Difference?
Even though it was called tomato sauce, it didn’t use tomatoes at first. After this sauce was introduced to England, only tomatoes were included in the ingredients for making sauces.
The original recipe for this sauce uses anchovies, vinegar, ginger, onion, and many other ingredients. Some time later, tomatoes were included in the ingredients for making sauces and after this their development began to spread to America.
Tomato sauce can last for several years, this is due to the high salt content.
The Ingredients Used In Ketchup and Catsup
Modern ketchup made usually consists of several basic ingredients. So, the following ingredients are the more commonly used ingredients, not the basic ingredients. So, usually this material is different between each factory that produces Ketchup.
The ingredients commonly used in making Ketchup are: vinegar, tomatoes, sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and other spices. Usually there are additional ingredients such as onions, vegetables and celery.
There is no striking difference between Ketchup and catsup. In making catsup there are several ingredients used such as tomatoes, cloves, cinnamon, sugar, salt, additional ingredients can be cayenne pepper, white vinegar, celery seeds.
Looking at the ingredients used in making Catsup and Ketchup, it’s only natural that you can’t tell the difference between these two types of soy sauce.
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Popular brands from Catsup and Ketchup
There is a popular catsup and there is also a popular Ketchup depending on the manufacturer. So, some brands are very popular and others are not.
In the UK there is Heinz, this is one of the famous Ketchup makers there. In fact he is considered the biggest Ketchup producer.
Although it is popular in the UK, the brand is also very popular in America. Heinz first produced the sauce in 1876 and at first they called it catsup, not Ketchup. But soon this brand was changed to Ketchup. But in some areas in South America, the catsup brand is still attached to them and calls it the catsup name.
Both of these brands are popular but now there are many soy sauce brands that have emerged. Among the other brands affected were Del Monte, Hunt’s, Trader Joe’s, and Kensington’s.
Why is it called Heinz? Turns out there is history too. The beginning of its operation was in 1837 by a farmer named Jonas Yerkes and then sold by Heinz.
Facts about Ketchup and Catsup
- Ketchup is a condiment that you can find in about 75% of American homes
- It is estimated that the average individual consumes 3 bottles of ketchup a year
- Unlike other food ingredients, Ketchup is not made with preservatives but with a variety of spices that contain very little preservatives.
- The taste of tomato sauce is different, this depends on the quality of the tomatoes that are harvested. Tomatoes that lack quality will affect the taste of the sauce, the richness of the flavor and even the overall taste.
- If the soy sauce is made with low-quality tomatoes, the soy sauce tastes bad.
- The sauce is made with raw (unripe) tomatoes, and uses few preservatives to prevent loss of flavor.
- The Ketchup recipe now uses 5 basic ingredients. These five ingredients represent 5 tastes: sour, sweet, bitter, salty, and savory.
When did catsup become ketchup?
Now we know the name ketchup and this was known after 1800. Previously, ketchup was known as catsup. But in fact, the change of name in the new society in the 1880s. This happened because there was a massive change in the seasoning industry, namely the Heinz industry.
Before the 1880s many people didn’t mention ketchup, but they still said the name “catsup.” This is the traditional name for this sauce. So, it is likely that many people think that ketchup is a new invention. Even though this tomato sauce has been around for centuries.
Also see: The Difference Between Salami And Pepperoni
Furthermore, in the 1880s, Heinz changed their brand from “catsup” to “ketchup”. Since then, various spice producers have started to appear using the name “ketchup”, while the traditional name “catsup” has begun to be forgotten, even though they think that the name is a forgotten past name.
